Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)

Original title: Zeroka no Onna: Akai Wappa

Director: Yukio Noda

Writers: Fumio Konami, Hiro Matsuda, Tooru Shinohara

Composer: Shunsuke Kikuchi

Starring: Miki Sugimoto, Eiji Go, Tesuro Tanha, Hideo Murota, Yoko Mihara, Ichiro Araki, Seiji Endo, Hiromi Kishi, Rokko Toura

More info: IMDb

Plot: After a politician's daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless gang, a brutal policewoman is released from jail and sent after them.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

It's been at least ten years since I saw this and I didn't remember anything about it (thanks, fucked up memory).  At least I had some fun seeing it again for the first time.  Where the lead in this Pinky Violence flick is lacking in charisma (I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that the character is so jaded and burnt out that she's so drab), it makes up in hard violence and lots of nudity (I love the Japanese people so, so much.  Thanks, ya'll!).  The violence is really fucking harsh and in your face.  Like all of the PVs I've seen so far, the cinematography is fantastic with eye popping colors and camera angles that give these films the style they're known for.  The nudity isn't the sexy kind.  When you get it the girls are being raped or tortured.  While it's not a slow film, the finale feels like it's a long time coming.  I could've used a couple of minutes trimmed from that last fifteen minutes but you do get your money's worth with the brutality and action.  The ending delivers a great payoff that leaves enough for the viewer to piece together without having to hold your had to explain it.  It's a good entry into the PV genre but so far, nothing tops GIRL BOSS GUERILLA (1972) which is so good that I don't think there's a better film in the wonderful, crazy world of Pinky Violence.

Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972)

Original title: Joshu 701-go: Sasori

Director: Shun'ya Ito

Writers: Fumio Konami, Hiro Matsuda, Tooru Shinohara

Composer: Shunsuke Kikuchi

Starring: Meiko Kaji, Rie Yokoyama, Yayoi Watanabe, Yoko Mihara, Akemi Negishi, Keiko Kuni, Yumiko Katayama, Emi Jo, Sue Mitobe, Chie Kobayashi

More info: IMDb


Plot: After being used and betrayed by the detective she had fallen in love with, young Matsu is sent to a female prison full of sadistic guards and disobedient prisoners.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes!

I loves me some Pinky Violence movies and this is one of the better ones.  Big time Pinky star Meiko Kaji stars in this PV pic that gives you everything you want that this genre has to offer...lots of nudity, cruelty, action and revenge for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

And that's just during the opening credits!  These films, while relatively few, are a gas to watch.  They're generally well made and have a great sense of style with not only the production design but with the camerawork.  And almost always the music scores are a blast! I haven't seen this series (there are four of them) in a very long time so it was nice to revisit the first one again.  It's such a unique and fun genre and it's hard not to like these pictures.

Rika (1972)

Director: Ko Nakahira

Starring: Rika Aoki, Kazuko Nagamoto, Masami Souda, Michi Nono, Fuminori Sato, Ryohei Uchida, Masane Tsukayama

More info: IMDb

Tagline:  The shocking story of a juvenile slut named Rika!

Plot: First film of a trilogy following the dramatic life of Rika, a half-Japanese/half-American woman who becomes the tough-as-nails leader of an all-girl crime gang.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Absolutely...and bring on the sequels!

Man, was that fun!  Rika Aoki doesn't seem like she can carry a Pinky Violence movie but that all changes once she starts kicking ass.  She doesn't have the acting chops or charisma that Reiko Ike & Miki Sugimoto (THE two biggest stars of the genre) have but she's more physical than they were so it's a nice trade off.  The story is all over the place with lots of flashbacks that aren't always so easy to follow.  If you pay close attention you'll figure it out or maybe my brain was slowing down last night.  Regardless, there is A LOT of action and it's loaded with some great, unexpected arterial sprays, not to mention some great kills...and thrills!

While it's not as polished a film as my favorite (so far), GIRL BOSS GUERILLA (1972), it makes up for it with some off the charts action sequences and they continue all the way to the end.  I'm such a fan of the genre that I made a blind buy recently on the Rica Trilogy DVD set and it turns out to be a great purchase. The picture quality on this first film (I haven't see the other two yet) is very grainy, grainier than most older films I've seen.  Don't let that discourage you because you'd miss out on one hell of a good time.  I hope the two sequels are as insane as this one.

Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (1973)

Director: Atsushi Mihori

Starring: Reiko Ike, Miki Sugimoto, Yumiko Katayama, Chiyoko Kazama, Masami Soda, Ryoji Hayama, Shinzo Hotta, Seiya Sato

More info: IMDb


Plot: Reiko Ike stars as the daughter of a man who has been pushed into drug dealing by the local Yakuza mob. Having outlived his usefulness to the gang he is murdered and Reiko is gang raped, leading her to attempt a knife attack on the Yakuza boss (Ryoji Hayama) at a swank nightclub. Failing to kill him she ends up in prison, where she befriends a crew of other malcontents (including Yumiko Katayama and Chiyoko Kazama) and meets the Yakuza boss's girlfriend (Miki Sugimoto). Upon release Reiko reassembles her mob and launches a Machiavellian scheme to engineer a gang war between Hayama's Oba Industries and the formerly dominant Hamayasu Clan. The rival gangs begin killing each other off and Reiko works her way closer to her ultimate vengeance.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Yes!

The Pinky Violence genre is one of my favorites.  There aren't an awful lot of films (maybe less than 100.  Anyone have an accurate figure?) and most of what I've seen so far have been very entertaining.  You've got Japanese chicks kicking ass, lots of violence and revenge and nudity.  This one's got all of that and even some bondage!

 

Pinky superstar regulars, Reiko Ike and Miki Sugimoto, give us everything you've come to expect from these pictures and it's an awful lot of fun to boot.  Hell, the first act is set in a women's prison.  Once the gals are out it's time for revenge and they get it but there's a price to pay.  I dig this one.  GIRL BOSS GUERILLA (1972) is still the best but this one's definitely up there close to the top.  If you're a fan of the genre then it's an easy purchase.  Go ahead.  Bite the bullet.  Put the gun to your boob and pull the trigger and get it.

Sex & Fury (1973)

Director: Noribumi Suzuki

Starring: Reiko Ike, Christina Lindberg, Akemi Negishi, Ryoko Ema, Yoko Hori

More info: IMDb

Tagline: The Biography of the Woman Boss of Bad Girls...

Plot: Reiko Ike stars as Ocho, a gambler and pickpocket in Meiji Era Tokyo. After sheltering a fleeing anarchist, Ocho runs into the three gangsters responsible for her father's murder, and runs afoul of various yakuza who want her dead. A European spy, played by Christina Lindberg, arrives on the scene and complicates matters.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again? Uh, HELLS YEAH!!!

Let's see...how can I put into words how awesome this flick is...hmmmmmmm...


That's just in the first 15 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



OMFG! THIS...IS...A MASTERPIECE!!!


Lest you get the impression that I actually liked this filth loaded with sex and violence, you're wrong.

I LOVED IT!

Please support the fine arts and purchase this outstanding DVD released by Panik House. They deserve your discriminating dollars.

See it for yourself in moving pictures...

Lady Snowblood (1973)

Director: Toshiya Fujita

Starring: Meiko Kaji

More Info: IMDB

Plot: Yuki's family is nearly wiped out before she is born due to the machinations of a band of criminals. These criminals kidnap and brutalize her mother but leave her alive. Later her mother ends up in prison with only revenge to keep her alive. She creates an instrument for this revenge by purposefully getting pregnant. Though she dies in childbirth, she makes sure that the child will be raised as an assassin to kill the criminals who destroyed her family. Young Yuki never knows the love of a family but only killing and revenge.

My Rating: 9

Would I watch it again? Is watching a Japanese broad run around for 97 minutes killing folks with a samurai sword hot as hell?

Did you read the plot outline? It's pretty fucked up. This is one of the best of the Pinky Violence (PV may refer to the films set in modern day but I'd still consider it one 'cause it's got a badass chick on a revenge kick to the death) films out there. WOW WOW WOW!


You wanna see where Tarantino got his inspiration for KILL BILL from? Most of it is in this picture. He used the opening song, some dialogue, characters and some shots. But all of that doesn't matter. What matters is that we have this film to view for ourselves and it's a masterpiece.

The plot is so thick with revenge that you can break a knife cutting it. The arterial blood sprays are abundant and the little twists we get are fun, believable and welcome because with each one introduced you know it's going to have to make the film longer. And that's a good thing 'cause I didn't want this one to end. I can't wait to watch the freakin' sequel.


Unlike a lot of these types of films from Japan there's no nudity. No big deal. Just an observation. But they make up for it with tanker trucks full of blood. It's like watching the sun gently rise in the morning over a golf course when suddenly, for as far as you can see, the sprinklers come on and do their work. It gets on the camera, the walls, everywhere. Nice.

Here's a neat little scene where Yuki (Lady Snowblood) removes this cat's hands...


So what that QT stole bits from this. If you watch enough movies you'll see all kinds of things he's borrowed from. At least he's really good at it. I've always heard that if you're going to steal, steal from the best...and of this type of film, it's probably the best of its kind.

Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee's Counterattack (1971)

Director: Norifumi Suzuki

Starring: Reiko Ike

More Info: IMDB

Plot: In the 1970s, the Japanese youth emancipation also found it's way into the yakuza (crime) societies. A Girl Boss may have a choice between bikes, and between boyfriends. But she has to defend her choices the hard way, as her triumph and power over the girls' gang is questioned by her female rivals, and the all powerful Yakuza Boss. She inspires loyalty to her girls, and to men to the extent of many of them literally giving their lives for her - in a world of knife and gun fighting, bike and car chasing, and violent death.

My Rating: 6/10

Would I watch it again? I hate to say it but no.



The Pinky Violence genre is one I'm totally behind. I've seen more than a dozen of them and they're generally very watchable and lots of fun. This one is probably the worst of the bunch so far but it's still somewhat enjoyable.

This one's got more brooding and talk than action and crazy fun with most of the latter happening in the second half. The pacing is kind of slow sometimes but if you're still there for the last half hour or so then you're in for a treat. 'Cause you get THIS!



WTF? Exactly. Leave it to the Japanese to come up with something this outrageous NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO!!! And I thought riding bikes just saved you money on gas. I'm sold.

Like all of this genre's films, there's lots of T&A, cat fights and some action. You're bound to see something that you've never seen before when checking any of these out. Not all of them are enthralling but they're beautifully shot and well-crafted. You could do much much worse.